I was invited to the Bayou Classic Football Game-Watching party on November 30, 2013, at a venue called The Market by my friend LaRonya, a Grambling University alumna, who insisted that I get out of the house. The party was uncomfortably crowded, so I was hugging the wall, when I looked up and saw some guy dancing and smiling at me. When our eyes met, he motioned with his pointer finger for me to "come here." I intended to decline because I didn't really feel like dancing, but he looked so doggone happy, that I decided to accept. I couldn't tell you how long or to how many songs we danced, but I remember us talking and dancing, and him making me laugh. Just his luck, the deejay was rocking the Old School Hip Hop! My favorite! He wondered how I knew all the songs that were playing & the Old School dances to go with 'em, with my "young self." LOL! Anyway, he put "Isreal", what I assumed was his first name, and a number in my phone, and we said "Good Night." A few weeks later, some time between Christmas & New Year's, I reached out to him. He didn't remember me. And quite honestly, I remembered the encounter, but I did not remember what he looked like. I just remembered he was short and brown skinned. When he texted me a picture of himself, I was sure that the guy I'd met at the party had put somebody else's number in my phone. I didn't remember exactly what he looked like, but it wasn't the guy in the picture. (It was, but in the pic he was 30 or so pounds lighter). He was funny. He held my attention. And he was so easy to talk to. It was like we'd known each other for years. I'd never felt so comfortable! It was crazy to me. It was the start of an amazing friendship that continues to grow. That first conversation left me intrigued. And I'm still looking forward to what is yet to come!

It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I was invited to an event that my friend was having at Market. I went solo. I was single and ready to mingle; and I wanted to just check out the scene, grab a bite to eat, and have a drink. The music was sounding good, and the ladies were looking attractive. After eating, and networking a little bit, I finally decided to go upstairs and dance. Not too often do I ask someone to dance. I typically just go with the flow of whoever's on the dance floor, because my experience has been that when you ask a woman to dance at a club, they'd rather act like "I'm chillin with my girls". So, I danced a little bit. Then, saw this young woman, with a nice physique bobbing her head, standing by herself, and thought she's not with any friends to be like "I'm chillin with my girls". I gestured for her to come dance with me, and she did. I'm like damn, that don't normally happen unless it's a younger woman. I asked her name and told her mine. Then, we danced for about 3 songs when I noticed her grip getting tighter and tighter, and her back was loosening up. So I'm like ok, let me exchange #s and reach out to her. It took about 2 months for her to call, but she did, and I took over from there.

I was convinced Barry was going to propose to me on Saturday, August 5th. We had been talking about future plans and the possibility of marriage for several months already, but when he started making a big deal about celebrating his friend's one year wedding anniversary as a double-date, it sounded suspicious to me. We don't double date. And Barry doesn't usually make a big deal about things. So, when he told me he was interested in joining a couples networking group, that was meeting up on a Wednesday evening (July 26th) at a restaurant downtown Chicago, I didn't think anything of it. I was told it was an upscale group, & to dress in After-5 attire. Barry is early for every appointment, so him fussing at me about running a little late was normal. Everything seemed normal. As we entered the restaurant, I noticed several small groups of people scattered throughout the dining area. We seemed to be walking toward a well-dressed couple seated at a table for four. As we drew closer, I smiled at the couple, thinking we were about to take a seat at their table. I was embarrassed when Barry made a quick right and headed toward the hostess. I was standing behind Barry, so I couldn't hear what he was saying to her. I heard the hostess respond, "Oh! Yes, follow me." We followed her down the stairs to a dimmer, more romantic setting, and I began to concern myself with the type of couples we were actually about to meet; and wondered why Barry didn't make any comments about it seeming a little strange in the "more-than-we-bargained-for" category of things. Nonetheless, she lead us to a small, intimate room with a table set for four. It was beautiful! Frosted-glass partitions & all.

Shortly after being seated, Barry looked at his phone and commented that they must've changed the location while we were in route. I immediately questioned the integrity of these people and Barry's desire to be a part of this group. He asked if I wanted to go there or just stay where we were. I opted to stay. Dinner conversation was pleasant but not out of the ordinary. When the waitress brought two glasses of champagne with dessert, I wasn't sure if that was "business as usual" for that restaurant, or if I should give a quick glance for something shiny at the bottom of my flute. Barry asked the waitress to take a picture of us, and I was surprised that the young lady seemed to be struggling with the smartphone. While I was focused on the waitress, from the corner of my eye, I saw Barry pull something black out of his briefcase and get down on one knee. So, the waitress wasn't struggling. She was recording! For the first time all night, I saw Barry in a state of nervousness. He managed to get out, "You know I love you...will you be my wife?" Guess what I said!!!!

Shortly after accepting the ring, we rushed outside to hop in a horse & carriage. It was like a scene from a movie. I kid you not! We rode through the streets of the north loop (Rush St., Michigan Ave., and such). At the exact moment that we turned onto Lake Shore Drive, the fireworks over Lake Michigan began. And Barry popped open the bottle of champagne and poured us each a glass. We sipped champagne and rode down Lake Shore Drive, watching the dark sky light up with so many beautiful colors. Just as the last explosion of the fireworks finale burst, our horse and carriage turned off of Lake Shore Drive and headed back toward the restaurant. It could not have been a more romantic scene, so perfectly timed, on a clear, warm, summer night!

After dating for about a year, I knew Aisha was my future wife. I had to be patient, and ask God to guide our path. After spending about 6 months looking for a ring, (Thank you to all my friends that went shopping with me, trying on rings, and utilizing your negotiation skills), the proposal planning was a challenge because I wanted it to be a special moment. Ideally, I wanted to propose at Aisha's family reunion (July 4th), but I wanted to make her day, HER day.  So instead, I decided to propose at a resturant. I had to make sure the menu had a variety of fish options (minus shellfish and catfish). So, Devon Restaurant won. I called the staff and arranged the reservations. I told them I would be proposing.

I told Aisha we were going to see/hear a presentation at the restuarant. When we arrrived, I pretended that the presentation had been relocated, "but since we're already [here] and have paid for valet, let's grab a meal." I was nervous because I wanted to make sure it was the right moment. The server brought the check, and then she brought champagne before I asked. So, I had to think quick! I started taking pictures of Aisha. The waitress came back and I asked her to take a picture, but the camera was in video mode. That's when I think she caught on, and I proceeded to get on a knee and ask Aisha to be my wife. "SHE SAID YES"!!

We then left the resturant to catch a carriage ride to watch fireworks and drink champagne down Lakeshore drive on The Magnificent Mile. We got dropped off back at my car outside of the restaurant and began to feed Tim, (The Horse)! Let's plan our future!!!